The International Conference on Artificial Intelligence: Applications, Innovation and Ethics was launched yesterday under the patronage of His Excellency Eng. Said bin Hamoud Al-Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, with the presence of His Highness Sayyid Dr. Fahd bin Al Julanda Al Said, the Vice Chancellor, a number of their Excellencies, academicians and researchers. The event was held at MAANI Muscat Hotel and Suites.
Organised by SQU’s UNESCO Chair for Artificial Intelligence at the Communications and Information Research Centre, the conference is a strategic collaboration with the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology. It is technically supported by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, in coordination with the Ministry of Education, the Omani National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, and SQU’s College of Engineering. The event is further supported by Omantel and Kinemetrics.
The conference explores artificial intelligence applications in education, medicine, industry, the digital economy, and energy. It also highlights AI's role in predicting and monitoring tsunamis and earthquakes while addressing ethical considerations surrounding its development and deployment.
Hosting distinguished researchers and AI experts, the conference features keynote speeches and specialised training workshops. Additionally, 15 sessions are dedicated to presenting 75 peer-reviewed research papers from 28 participating countries.
Professor Abdul Nasser Hussein, Head of the UNESCO Chair on Artificial Intelligence and Supervisor of the Conference Organising Committee, delivered a speech emphasising the importance of artificial intelligence in enhancing scientific and technological capabilities locally, regionally and internationally. He also highlighted its contribution to achieving many of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
Dr. Nasser bin Mohammed Al Fannah, Director of the Technical Programmes Office and Acting Assistant Director General at the National Centre for Space, Advanced Technology and Artificial Intelligence, presented on the development of artificial intelligence, tracing its origins back to Alan Turing. He discussed key advancements, particularly in areas such as generative AI, language processing, machine learning, and robotics, as well as the impact of technologies such as ChatGPT. Dr. Al Fannah highlighted Oman’s progress in AI, noting initiatives such as the National Programme for Digital Economy, which translates the Oman Vision 2040. He stressed the importance of developing local AI platforms to reduce dependency on foreign technologies and outlined upcoming projects, including a ChatGPT-like platform and the Fourth Industrial Revolution Centre. He emphasised the need for Oman to lead in the evolving AI landscape.
The conference continues to serve as a crucial platform for AI discourse, fostering innovation, ethical considerations, and strategic development in the field.